Questions 3-11 deal with humanity's sin and guilt, questions 12-85 with the way in which God in Jesus Christ frees humankind, and questions 86-129 with the manner in which humanity express gratitude to God for redemption.

The questions in the catechism are addressed to "you", and they draw heavily on biblical language. The catechism's theology is both catholic, in the sense of having universal appeal, and evangelical in that it sets forth the gospel of Jesus Christ. The catechism provided a basis for a peaceful coexistance between the
Lutheran and Reformed Christians. According to the catechism the bread and wine does not actually become the very blood and body of Christ, but affirmed that "by this visible sign and pledge . . . we come to share in his true body and blood through the working of the Holy Spirit . . ." (paragraph 4.079).